Translation guide
The number of years a person has lived, as opposed to biological or mental age. In Japanese, this is most commonly expressed with the word 年齢 (nenrei) or the counter 歳 (sai).
What is your chronological age?
Polite and direct; suitable for forms or formal inquiries.
I am 30 years old.
Standard self-introduction of age.
Expressing how old someone is in years since birth
The standard word for 'age' in years. Often used in formal or written contexts, such as forms, surveys, or medical settings.
Please tell me your age.
There is an age limit.
The counter for age, attached to a number. This is the most common way to state someone's age in everyday conversation.
I am 25 years old.
How old is he?
Literally 'actual age', used to emphasize chronological age as opposed to perceived or biological age. Common in discussions about aging or health.
You look younger than your actual age.
A technical term for chronological age, used in academic or medical contexts. Rare in daily conversation.
Chronological age and biological age are different.
The English phrase 'chronological age' is often used in contrast to 'biological age'. In Japanese, simply using 年齢 (nenrei) or 歳 (sai) is usually sufficient. Adding 暦 (reki) makes it sound highly technical.
When asking someone's age, it's polite to use おいくつですか (o-ikutsu desu ka) instead of 何歳ですか (nan-sai desu ka) in formal situations. However, for 'chronological age' specifically, 年齢 (nenrei) is more precise.